Book Two (IceQueen) Fox's Tricks and Illusions

Chapter Two: Strings that Pull the Puppet

Kyoko loved her blood clones, since all it took was a drop of blood and she'd have a solid clone for about a month or two. She didn't know how long they lasted, since she was never away from Sound for more then a few weeks. Three at most. It was the reason she started her hunt so late, since she had to make sure Orochimaru never caught her leaving.

No one was to know that she was hunting Orochimaru's old group, no one. It made plans harder to make if anyone knew she was leaving, as it was, she had to make sure to henge her clones so they could leave.

"It's good to be free," she whispered to herself, she had just left Sound Country. From her sources, both of her targets were going to be in Grass in a few days. It gave her enough time to set up a trap. "This should only take a day or two."

The bridge in front of her was perfect, forest covered either side. She was sure this was were Konoha had their turning point in the third shinobi war, but she could be wrong, since she was sure they already blew up that bridge.

"Must have replaced it," she whispered to herself thick, while black lines appeared on the metal. It was a basic seal, she was sure Deidara would love it, since his life would be going out with a bang. She wasn't so sure about Sasori, she heard they argued about the meaning of art. She was also pretty sure some of her clones overheard some of those arguments.

"In the end. This bridge might be replaced for the second time in twenty years. Maybe I'll ask Tazuna, it's been awhile since I've seen the old man. Maybe even Natsu and Inari. She missed the two, both were like her little brothers.

She kept their presents in a bracelet. One that she never let leave her sight, it was her biggest weakness, and hell would freeze over before she let anyone touch her little brothers. She was getting stronger by the day, and she knew Orochimaru was getting weaker. Soon everything would be in place.

-IceQueen-

Both Deidara and Sasori looked at each other, before looking at the giant seal on the bridge. Neither of them could move. They both tried to send chakra into the black design, but found that neither had enough and their stores were getting lower by the second.

"Don't worry," a voice said as a red haired girl appeared in front of them, her hands pulling up fishnet gloves. "Sasori, I won't keep you waiting long, through it is quite odd. For someone who believes that art is eternal, one would think you had more patience."

"Let us go, un," Deidara told her, while trying to destroy the seal, but she only rolled her eyes. She had placed a drainer at the start of the bridge, it wasn't her fault they didn't notice their chakra stores vanishing before she trapped them in a 'freeze' seal. She had turned their muscles, and joints, slowly into ice. They weren't going to move, for a very long time. "Art is an explosion."

"Then you'll love this," she told them, pointing in front of her, they could see a small seal on the bridge. A giant smile on her face, as she walked towards them. "But I'll be taking your belongings. Also, the names Kyoko. You might already know, since I'm a target. Hate to break it you, but the moment you came for Gaara, you signed your own death warrants."

"You little brat," Sasori growled, he had killed thousands and yet, he couldn't kill this pitiful teenager.

He knew about the nine tails, they said she was a nightmare among missing nin. The boogeyman of the land, the same one parents would tell their children. She was also Itachi's target, and yet, it looked like she was hunting them. Successfully, if what Pein had told them about Kakuzu and Hidan was true.

"And now you'll go out," she said, hands on her hips a smile on her face. She had paused to draw their attention back to her, she couldn't let them notice the dull glow of the seals next to them. "With an explosion and your blood will be eternally painted in the rock, and sand of the land. See ya."

-IceQueen-

Kyoko only giggled as she walked away from Grass, she would go back to Orochimaru, but she had to get some herbs from Fire. Activating her henge seal, she ran her fingers through thick brown hair.

She wasn't going to get caught, after all, she was pretty sure Jiraiya was close to Sasori and Deidara's final resting place. She wondered who their leader was, and how pissed off he was going to be. She had taken down four of his members, and if she remembered correctly, Tsunade said they believed there were nine rings. Orochimaru having the tenth. She had seen it in his room, she would have to steal it later.

Blinking, she only sighed as she saw Sasuke and Jiraiya. It was most likely karma for playing with her prey, especially since they couldn't do anything back. She could kill A-ranks with ease, S-ranks were another story all together.

"Hello there," Jiraiya said to her, and Kyoko was glad she was using a seal. It wasn't like he knew it. "What's a pretty thing like you walking by yourself."

Kyoko only blinked at him, before looking at Sasuke. He looked like he was ready to hit the man with any blunt object, not that she blamed him. She wanted to stab him with any sharp object. "I was making my way to the trading post. Herbs."

"A healer then?"

"No, I make tea."

"Tea?"

"Yes, tea." Kyoko didn't know if he bought it, but she did know how to make tea. Kurama had taught her how to make older, more forgotten, blends. Ones his father would have enjoyed. "Father ran a trading business, so I opened a shop, but I must be going now. Have a nice day, shinobi-san."

"Why don't we escort you," Jiraiya told her, he had found a battle site and he didn't know if the person was in the area. He didn't know who did it, but he had a feeling that it was Kyoko, since it had Uzumaki seals written all over it. She should be glad that most people had forgotten how bad a Uzumaki seal was, along with how much damage they caused. "Two S-rank shinobi were killed in Grass, it'll be better to be safe then sorry."

"Thank you," she told them, while cursing. It was karma, there was no doubt about it, she would have to stuck to civilian speed. God damn it. "If it's not too much trouble."

"It's nothing, I'm Jiraiya of the Sannin..."

Kyoko blinked and tuned him out, turning to Sasuke she gave him a small smile, before asking, "is he always like that?"

"Hn," Sasuke replayed while nodding, he did this every time he saw a 'pretty young women', but he doubted she was going to fall for his tricks. In fact, to him, she looked slightly unnerved. Brown eyes wide, as a tanned hand went over her mouth. She was pretty, but he wasn't interested.

"I'm going to have to take that as yes, huh, Uchiha-san."

"How?"

"The back of your shirt," she told him. "Papa said I read to much, but only the Uchiha clan has that fan on their clothing. We better get going, I'm Mika."

"Sasuke," he told her. Nodding his head, before going towards the trading point, if the Hokage was annoyed at them, he would point her in Jiraiya's direction, maybe even Mika's. "Let's leave the moron behind."